Indicted: Leopold Faces Multiple Criminal Charges Of Misconduct In Office
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)— A sex scandal rocks the office of the Anne Arundel County executive. And that's not the only accusation John Leopold is facing after being indicted by the state prosecutor.
Meghan McCorkell went one-on-one with Leopold about the accusations.
Leopold is indicted on four counts of misconduct in office. He is accused of using his security detail for personal duties resulting in thousands of dollars in overtime.
County officers also told a grand jury they drove Leopold to parking lots so he could have sex with another county employee.
According to a five-count indictment, Leopold's security was paid $10,000 in overtime during two hospital visits to run interference between his girlfriend and his mistress.
The state prosecutor says that was an abuse of public trust. The State Prosecutor's Office is the same office that handled the robocall scandal and the indictment of former Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon.
"The response to the salacious allegations will be handled in court," Leopold told WJZ.
The indictment goes on claiming Leopold inappropriately used his police detail in his 2010 re-election campaign.
The county executive says there's more to the story.
"Once the citizens hear both sides of the story, they will have a complete and full understanding of this case," he said.
Leopold says he will fight the scandal, something he's weathered before.
"There were allegations about me before the last election, and the people re-elected me handily," Leopold said.
Those allegations came outside an Annapolis mall.
A 911 caller claimed to see someone engaging in a sex act in a vehicle. That vehicle turned out to be Leopold's county car.
911 Caller: "I see some activity going on in a car and I don't think it's proper."
911 Responder: "What kind of activity is it, sir?"
911 Caller: "It looks like sexual activity to me."
Leopold was found in the car but was never charged. The county executive is confident he will weather this storm, too.
"I'm very confident when all the relevant facts are known, that we will prevail," Leopold said.
Leopold tells WJZ he has no plans of stepping down from office.
"Absolutely, I've been an excellent steward of the county's resources," he said. "I ask my fellow citizens to be patient as all these charges are answered. I have decades of history, of valued public service . I've been an excellent steward of the county's finances. I have confidence that the citizens understand that and they know that as I continue in office that their resources will be protected."
He says his main focus now is the county budget.
"There's no question about that," he said. "I've been in this position for six years, returned over $60 million to taxpayers, cut spending. I've done an excellent job of handling the county's resources. I have no qualms about continuing to do that on that behalf."
Leopold did not confess to or deny any allegations when he spoke to Vic Carter after phoning in for comment on Friday afternoon.
"The state prosecutor has had his opportunity to present his side of the story," Leopold said. "I look forward to my side of the story being heard. In the court of law, all sides have the opportunity to present evidence and arguments as opposed to the grand jury process, which can be manipulated and controlled solely by the state prosecutor. I would ask my fellow citizens to reserve judgment until then and that they be patient as the judicial process takes its course.There's only one proper forum for these issues to be discussed--in the courts. I look forward to my side of the story being heard."
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